Mind ceases to exist without the matter.

We are discussing about the formless truth in the realm of untruth (duality])  If we rectify  the reasoning base  from, form to formless, then the words and concepts will become meaningless. To travel from ignorance to wisdom one has to use the words and concepts and as his understanding matures he has to drop them. 

Everyone is not in same level of understanding, some are in elementary level and some are in advanced stages. In elementary stages we have to use more words and concepts to make them understand and also to overcome the inherited conditioning, for advanced seekers are sharp enough to understand assimilate the truth with lesser words.  

    

Spiritual pursuit is a very personal journey. Seeker of truth has to bifurcate everything which is based on the ego, (false self), such as religion, god, paths and theories and philosophy.

Seeker of truth should not indulge in condemning religion and yoga or its gurus or gods and its code of conducts. But he has to highlight its fallacy for his own information, which helps him to proceed deeper in investigation.

Seeker of truth has to mingle and discuss with like-minded people but never indulge in arguments about religious doctrines and teachers and teachings and philosophies.

Religion and god and guru glorification and scriptural studies or yoga are not needed in pursuit of truth. Only one must have the intense urge to know the truth and courage to accept the truth and reject the untruth, when un-contradictable truth is revealed through inquiry analysis and reasoning. 

A receptive mind free from religious and yogic or any sort of knowledge based on the ego is very much necessary to acquire the non-dual wisdom.

All the accumulated knowledge from religion and yoga and paths and theories are mere dross in pursuit of truth. Religion and yoga are helpful for the mass and the society but they are barricade in unfolding the mystery of the mind.

Even in the Buddhism: - Buddhist teaching has itself become a kind of interactive and self-evolving process, much like its idea of pratityasamutpada. However, the end goal is still Nirvana, which is an experience ultimately beyond all concepts and language, even beyond the Buddhist teachings. In the end even the attachment to the Dharma, the Buddhist teaching, must be dropped like all other attachments. The tradition compares the teaching to a raft upon which one crosses a swift river to get to the other side; once one is on the far shore; there is no longer any need to carry the raft. The far shore is Nirvana, and it is also said that when one arrives, one can see quite clearly that there was never any river at all.

 The scriptures and theories and teaching based on the ego are not the yardstick. Using them as yardstick to understand and assimilate the truth will lead one towards pursuit of arguments. Seeker of truth has to discover on his own, the truth of his true existence by inquiring “what is mind?” and “what is substance of the mind?” and move forward.   

The wisdom consists in knowing the truth, that everything [mind or physical existence] is consciousness. Freedom (truth) is always there yet one does not know it.  But to those whose reason is turned away from physicality and who have attained the serenity of the soul/self (consciousness) are quite near to the ultimate truth. 

To think one's  own body and his experience of the world is an illusion is difficult matter, unless one realizes the self is not physical but it is formless soul, it is difficult to have glimpse of the non-dual  truth. 

When one realizes the fact that, the self is not physical but the formless soul, naturally the body and universe becomes illusion.

The mind (universe) is emanating from soul (consciousness) means the mind is being effect from consciousness is not different from it. Deeper analysis shows it. Analysis needs deeper thinking and reasoning. Mind is whole universe thus it has a form. But where is the form in consciousness (soul) because consciousness is like an ocean and mind is like wave.  The universe is same consciousness, as the ocean produces the wave, so the consciousness produces the mind (universe).

The moment one knows the mind (universe) is consciousness, and then there is no ignorance. If one knows consciousness as self then everything is consciousness, the consciousness is second to none.  The mind is consciousness but due to ignorance one mistakes it for something else. One thinks the self is within the body; but the self is without the body and the world. 

Mind ceases to exist without the matter. Without the matter mind ceases to exist as mind but it exists as matter- less awareness or consciousness. Without the mind neither the world nor its perceiver can exist.

Without the matter there is no duality. Without duality there is no experience. Without experience it is non-dual reality. Therefore, whatever prevails without the mind is ultimate reality.

The true nature of the soul (consciousness) is camouflaged by the illusion/duality/universe.  To know the truth one has to discover and realize the formless substance of the mind or illusion. One has to learn to view and judge the worldview on the standpoint the formless soul as self.   Self-Knowledge  or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is the prime goal of the truth seeker. This goal is hidden within the mind as its invisible substance and witness. Therefore, it is necessary inquiry, analyze and reason in to the nature of mind/ duality/illusion/universe in order to unfold the mystery of mind or duality or illusion.

 

The 'self' is not an individual because it is birthless because it is formless.

The seeker of truth  should not expect  the spiritual path  to be free  of obstacles. It  is impossible to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman  without getting rid of the hindrances which is blocking his realization of ultimate truth or Brahman. The Seeker  has to investigate what is is blocking his realization and get rid of them. 

One should not wish for the  easy way to search the truth. In the  easy way, there is ignorance. The ignorance is inborn. The ignorance is in the form of 'I'.  The ignorance has been nourished and passed on from one generation to the next. Without getting rid of this inborn ignorance,  it is impossible to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman. The man+world are a product of ignorance.   The man+world ceases to exist without the ignorance.   In self-awareness  there is neither the man nor the world because man+world are a mere mirage create out the soul,which is present in the form of consciousness. The soul is the innermost self. On the standpoint of the soul, the innermost self the man+world are mere illusion.


Ignorance is in the form of 'T'. 'I' is in the form of mind. The Mind is in the form of the universe. The universe appears in the form of waking or dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep(non-duality)   

The ‘I’ is inborn samskara or conditioning, because of this inborn samskara or conditioning one has accepted the ‘I’ as ‘self, he is ignorant of the fact that, he has accepted illusion as reality.  The ‘I’ itself is the  illusion.  And whatever is connected to the ‘I’ is bound to be  the illusion.  

The 'self' is not an individual because it is birthless because it is formless.  The self is not limited to waking experience alone because it pervades all the three states.  Thus identifying the self without the form alone is erroneous.   The self is without the form, without the time and without the space

Thought is nothing to do with the innermost self, which is ever formless because without the form, time and space the thought will not be formed.  Thought rises only to the waking entity or dream entity. Without the waking entity or dream entity the thoughts will not rise. Deeper self-search reveals the fact that, the self is neither the waking entity nor the self is the dream entity but the self is the formless soul or consciousness, which witnesses the coming and going of the three states.  The three states are nothing to do with the self because they are mere illusion created out of the soul , the innermost self ,which is present in the form of consciousness.  Thus thoughtless is not wisdom.  the thought ,thinker and the world are one in essence. That essence is consciousness   Thus the thought,thinker and the world are part of the illusion.  

The seeker has to try to get rid of the ignorance by  realizing the fact  that,  the 'self' is neither the waking entity nor the 'self ' is dream entity but the 'self'  the formless soul, which witnesses the coming and going of the three states,  without the physical apparatus.    One should not hope for realization without obstacles.  An easy way  is lazy way.  

The truth is easy, but, because of the accumulated knowledge and conditioning becomes greatest hindrance in pursuit of truth. When one is conditioned to accept something else as truth, it becomes difficult for him to accept anything other than his accepted truth. Since, he is been involved with his inherited conditioning sentimentally and emotionally for years together, therefore, he will not be receptive to Self-knowledge or Brahman Gnana or Atma Gnana. the seeker has to unlearn what he has learnt and start a fresh in order to understand,assimilate and realize the ultimate truth or Brahman. 


That is why  Sage Sri, Sankara says :- VC-63. Without causing the objective universe to vanish and without knowing the truth of the Self, how is one to achieve Liberation by the mere utterance of the word Brahman ? — It would result merely in an effort of speech.

65. As a treasure hidden underground requires (for its extraction) competent instruction, excavation, the removal of stones and other such things lying above it and (finally) grasping, but never comes out by being (merely) called out by name, so the transparent Truth of the self, which is hidden by Maya and its effects, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman, followed by reflection, meditation and so forth, but not through perverted arguments.

Whatever have appeared (birth, life, death and world) has appeared on its own and it disappears on its own.  Whether a person takes it as reality or illusion it all depends on his mental and intellectual conditions will determine the phenomenal world observed and experienced. The look of an object will depend upon the medium through which the observer views it. A Gnani viewing the universe (practical life within the practical world) different from the ignorant is viewing the same universe (practical life within the practical world). Each one of them interprets the universe he sees in term of his existing knowledge.   The Gnani sees his body, his ego and his experience of the world as mere mirage created out of consciousness whereas the ignorant sees his body as body, his ego as ego and his experience of the world as world.  


Only when one finds his accumulated knowledge is inadequate and useless, then only it is possible to drop the accumulated dross.   One has to accept the ups and downs of life; by understanding they are mere illusion on the ultimate standpoint.  The illusion, which appears and disappears, is impermanent and whatever is experienced as reality within the illusion is bound to be the  illusion.  The truth has nothing to with the individual experiences with in the illusion. Because it is not an entity or identity within the illusion but it is the formless substance and witness of the illusion. The truth is hidden within the illusion and it is without the illusion. 

A Gnani is one who has become aware of the formless witness, which is within the three states and it is without the three states.  He is a man of perfection is one who learnt to reason on the base of the formless witness. He has delved into and has become aware of the formless true soul, the innermost self  and he transcended consciously all his identification with the physical existence. He has realized his universal identity is without the physical existence (body +world = mind). 

Such a perfect seer has, when once he has realized  the self is not physical but self is  formless soul or consciousness  no longer is in bondage or burden of the physical existence(waking), because  the physical existence(waking or universe)  is mere illusion on the standpoint of the soul, the innermost self.  The perfect seer sees consciousness in everything and everywhere in all the three states. Hence, the three states is mere mirage created out of consciousness  There is no second thing exists, other than the soul, which is present in the form of  consciousness. 

The consciousness is the cause of all that exists as universe [mind] and Consciousness itself is uncaused.

One has to know first the self is formless, because everyone speaks of the self on the base of form (waking entity or ego)  as self.  The ego is not the self. The ego is the false self. When one considers the physical body as self the ego is formed. 


The soul, which is in the form of consciousness, is the real self.  The real self has no form, but all things, forms and shapes are created out of the self, which is  present in the form of consciousness. Therefore, the self has no individuality because it pervades in everything and everywhere in all the three states.  When one limits the self or consciousness as  an individual then there is ignorance. When one identifies the 'self 'or consciousness as the whole universe, which is in the form of mind then the ignorance vanishes.  

Only when one starts the debate within himself deeply whether the 'self' is form or the 'self 'is formless, then the truth will start unfolding on its own. He becomes aware of the fact that, the 'self' is not form  but 'self'  is formless.  On the stand point of the formless 'self,'  the body, ego,  the universe and all conceptual ideas  gods are created out of  of consciousness(soul).  Without consciousness(soul) they cease to exist, but consciousness(soul) can exist with or without them.

It is extremely difficult to understand the non-dualistic or Advaitic truth  because our judgement is based on the form, which is the false base, whereas the form itself is based on the formless.  Thus one has to base the self on the formless then only he will be able to get the correct judgement of what is what.

The whole universe, which contains all the forms and things are created out of the soul, the innermost self, which is present i the form of consciousness and the self itself has no form therefore the self or consciousness is everything together. 

 There is no division is possible in consciousness from the ultimate standpoint. The division is mere illusion created out of ignorance.  These things do not become clear until one has realized the fact that, the 'self' is not form  but 'self' is formless.

 The consciousness assumes different forms and shapes and things within the illusion and causes the sense of reality within the illusion.   The ignorance of the consciousness, which is the true self, is the cause of experiencing the duality as reality.   Only when the ignorance vanishes then these things becoming clear and one realizes the fact that, his ego, body and his experience of the universe are also created out of single stuff, which is consciousness. Therefore, there is no second thing exists other than consciousness.   Thus consciousness is the ultimate reality.

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is the end of the physical knowledge and goal of wisdom.   Self- Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana has no human author because it has to be grasped mentally assimilated and realized.  Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is not set of dogma or theories. There is no scope for blindly accepting anything as truth in pursuit of truth. In order to understand and assimilate and realize the ultimate truth one has to employ his reasoning faculty base on the soul (consciousness), which is the true self. 


What is accepted without proper inquiry, analysis and reasoning will not lead the person to the final goal.  On the contrary such acceptance will result only in the assumption, in something which detrimental to one’s spiritual progress. 

One has to inquire into the nature of the mind, which is in the form of ‘I’.  The mind represents the whole physical existence (man + universe).  One has to reflect on the subject over and over again until the conviction becomes firm. 

In the area of scientific knowledge one can bank on the discoveries of the inventor. But it is not so in pursuit of truth. If anyone says, some saint has discovered the ultimate truth in the past, we cannot say that there is nothing for us to do. Everyone has to discover a fresh for himself.    That is why the non-dual truth can never become accessible to everyone unless one discovers on his own. Each one has to testify from his own reasoning to the non-dual truth. 

Deeper inquiry, analysis  and reasoning is beginning of the spiritual quest. It should be followed by constant reflecting what he has grasped and assimilated.  When it starts revolving within the subconscious what he studied – inquiring with the help of sharpened reason the inner dialogue starts.  The ultimate truth has to be grasped through one pointed sharpened reason then only it is possible to realize it.


Most of the non-dual teachings are based on theoretical understanding based on the scriptures.  But the non-dual truth has to be grasped only through individual homework. Armchair theorizing is not the means to Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

The consciousness is the root element of the mind or the universe.  From the consciousness the mind or universe comes into existence. In the consciousness the mind or universe resides and into the consciousness mind or the universe is dissolved.  The consciousness is the cause of all that exists as universe (mind) and  Consciousness itself is uncaused.
    
Whatever existed in the past becomes non-existent in the present.  Whatever existing in the present becomes past in the future. Therefore, the past never becomes present and present never becomes future.  Therefore, the past, present and future are time bound. The past, present and future are based on the form. Without the form there is no time and no space.  The form and space exist within the time. If the time ceases then the form and space also ceases.

 Only the consciousness, which is the formless substance and the witness of the past, present and future is permanent and eternal.